Illusion-sign.



L. A. WATKINS.

ILLUSION SIGN. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1909.

k 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. Q N Q N w Q R Q Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

L. A. WATKINS.

ILLUSION SIGN.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ELIE/7266666.?

LEONARD WATKINS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

rnnnsron sren.

eraser.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 19MB.

Application filed April 8, 1909. Serial No. 488,561.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD A. WATKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Illusion-Signs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an illusion sign such as are adapted to be displayed at night in the windows of stores, shops, and the like, for the purpose of attracting the attention of the passers-b to articles and goods that are for sale in t e stores, or for calling attention to the name of the establishment. These signs must, generally speaking be very unique to attract the eye of the ordinary person and therefore considerable ingenuity is a necessary to produce something that is artistic as well as useful.

It is the object of my invention to construet ads-vice for this purpose that can be roduced. for a reasonable sum, is efiective in its use, and one that can readily be changed in appearance at a very nominal cost. This I accomplish in the manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings :--Figure 1 is a vertical front elevation of my improvedsign. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section thereof taken on dotted line 2-2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is. a fragmentary detail view (1n sectionlof a corner edge of the device, drawn to an enlarged scale for the purpose of illustrating the manner ofsecuringthe glass sign-plate in position. Fi 4 is a detail plan view of a modified type f color web or transparency that can be used n connection with my invention. Fig. 5 is a detail view in elevation of the door in the rear wall of said sign. Fig. 6 is a vertical section ofmy improved sign taken on dotted line 6-6 Fig. 2, the color or transparency disk broken away to disclose the arrangementof the mechanism for operating the same.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the inclosing shell or casing of my improved device whichin this particular instance is made of sheet metal, cylindrical in shape, but which may be made of any suitable material and of rectangular or any other shape that may be found desirable. The back or rear portion 13 of the casing is preferabliy made of sheet metal of a shape correspon ing to that of the casing and has circum- I ferential edges 6 thereof flanged outwardly so as to fit snugly around the outside of-said casing to which it is removably secured by means of suitable hooks or otherwise. The entire front portion of the casing is left open and is adapted to be covered by the glass sign-plate C upon which a suitable sign is painted having the body portion of an opaque shade and the lettering or scroll Work 0 transparent. The outer circumferential edge Zr of the casing is. preferably bent laterally inwardly to form a flanged seat upon which this sign-plate C is sup orted. A removable annular retaining strip having an inwardly flanged edge is placed over the sign-plate and fitted over the casing to which it is securely clamped by means of suitable hooks.

A pair of metal standards E, E, the ends 6, e, of which are bent laterally to themselves, are secured to the interior of the casing in such manner that they bridge the same axially near the rear and front walls thereof and act as a brace or support for the walls of the casing as a means for supporting various parts of the device. J ournaled in suitable bearings in these standards at their centers of length is a spindle f-of a suitable skeleton or spider frame F of dimensions slightly less than the inside diameter of the casing and which preferably comprises a circular wire or wooden frame and a pluralityof arms F radiatory from the spindle and connected at their outer ends to said frame. This spider is adapted to be covered with a suitable transparency G that bears upon its face a. conventlonal or irregu lar design preferably made. in bright contrasting colors that are alternately arranged thereon substantially as shown in the brokenaway portion in Fig. 6 and in the detail plan of the same (Fig. 4). This transparency is adapted to be revolved at a slow speed in a plane slightly back'of the lane "of said sign-plate; so that the colors, in passing the transparent portions of the sign, will show through the same and produce the illusion of movin letters.

Any suitable means ma be employed for.

revolving-the spindle an the transparency and for this purpose I have illustrated an electric motor H that is securely mounted on the standards E in the interior of the casing and is provided with a small pulley upon the outer end of its armature shaft. This pulley is connected by a belt or otherjournaled in bearings in the standards E, E,

and the smaller of said pulleys h is belted to a large pulley I on the spindle of the spider frame, thus permitting the transparency to be revolved at a very slow speed.

secured to opposite sides of the interior of said casing and supporting the same centrally, a sign-plate forming the front wall of said casing, a retaining strip secured to said casing and inclosing the edges of said signplate, a revoluble spindle journaled insaid The means for illuminating the sign may I standards mediate their ends, a spider consist of any well known agent, but fer to use and have illustrated an electric lamp J for this particular purpose which is hung inside the casing at such a point where itslight rays will be projected upon the transparency and sign plate to the greatest advantage; In order that access may be had to the interior of the casing without the necessity of having to remove the back B, I prefer to provide the latter with a small hand-hole or opening over which a hinged door K is adapted to be closed and latched.

While I have described and illustrated my improved sign as being made according to certain specifications I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to these exact constructions except as required by the sco e of the appended claims for it is quite o vious the sign-plate can be made in various ways and other types of motive power and illumination are applicable to the same without departing from the spirit of my invention. v

What I claim as new is:.

1. As a new article of manufacture an illusion sign comprising a casing having its rear closed by a removable back and its front edges bent laterally inward, a sign plate-forming the front wall 'of said casing, a retaining strip secured to said casing and inclosing the-edges of said sign-plate, a revoluble transparency back of said signplate, a motorfor revolving 'saidtransparency, and alamp disposed to the rear of said transparency.

2 As a new article of manufacture an illusion sign comprising 'a casing having its rear closed by a removable back and its front edges ,bent laterally inward, a signplate forming the front wall of said casing, a retaining strip secured to said casing and inclosing the edges of said sign-plate, a spider-frame revoluble in a plane to the rear of said sign-plate, having an integral removable transparency secured to and covering the same, a motor for revolving said trans-' parency, and a lamp disposed to the rear of said transparency.

3. As a new article of manufacture an illusion sign comprisinga casing having its rear closed by a removable back and its I prel on the outer'endof said spindle and disposed in a plane to the rear ofsaid sign-plate, a transparency removably secured to and covering said spider, a motor connected to and adapted to revolve said spindle, and a lamp disposed to the rear of said transparency.

4. As a new article of manufacture an illusion sign comprising a casing having its rear closed by a removable back and its front edges bent laterally inward, standards having laterally bent ends that are secured to opposite sides of the interior of said casing and supporting the same centrally, a

sign-plate forming the front wall "of saidcasing, a-retaining strip secured to said cas- 'ing and inclosing the edges of said signplate, a revoluble spindle journaled in said standards mediate their ends, a spider on the outer end of said spindle and disposed in a plane to the rear of said sign-plate, a transparency removably secured to and covering said spider, a motor connected to and adapted to revolve said. spindle, and a lamp disposed to the rear of said transparency.

5. As a new article of manufacture, an illusionsign comprising a casing having its rear closed by a removable back and its front edges bent laterally inwardly, standards supporting the interior of said casing having their ends bent laterally and secured to opposite sides of the casing and their main portions extending centrally across said casing in planes near the front edges thereof, a sign-plate forming the front wall of said casing, a retaining-strip secured to said casing and inclosing the edges of said sign-plate, a; revoluble spindle journaled in said standards mediate their ends, a spider on the outer end of said spindle and disposed in a plane to the rear of said sign- 1 plate, a transparency removably secured to and covering said spider, a motor connected to and adapted to revolve said spindle, and a lamp disposed to rear of said transparency.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of March 1909.

LEONARD A. WATKINS.

VVitnessesi FRANK D. THOMASON, E. K. LUNDY. 

